HR1323 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1323 LRB100 24063 MST 43167 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate State Rep. Bob Pritchard on his retirement and recognize his years of service to the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Pritchard was born on February 2, 1945; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Pritchard and his wife, Mary, met at the University of Illinois and were married in 1968; they have two children, Matthew and Gregory, and four grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Pritchard studied communications at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he received his bachelor's and master's degrees; he enjoyed working in communications, beginning as a radio and TV broadcaster for a regional station in Iowa and moving on to work for two universities; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Pritchard accumulated over 23 years of experience in public relations, marketing, and community affairs while working for DeKalb Genetics, a Monsanto Company; and

WHEREAS, Prior to joining the General Assembly, Rep. Pritchard got his start on the Hinckley-Big Rock School Board and later was the DeKalb County Board Chairman; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Pritchard was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 2003 and proudly served the 70th Legislative District for 15 years; and

WHEREAS, Growing up on a farm near Maple Park, Rep. Pritchard learned the values of hard work, dedication, and persistence which were instilled in his earliest years; this philosophy was reflected in the way he represented his constituents; he listened, studied the issues, and worked for the best interests of his district and the citizens of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Pritchard's family farming operation included corn, soybeans, oats, alfalfa, dairy, beef, horses, and chickens; he and his family continue to operate their farm, now in its 7th generation; and

WHEREAS, With his background in communications and his passion for agriculture, Rep. Pritchard served as Executive Director of the Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his tenure serving the residents of DeKalb, Boone, Ogle, and Kane Counties, Rep. Pritchard has diligently worked for the betterment of the district on a wide variety of issues including early childhood and education, healthcare, conservation and the environment, job creation, and protecting the manufacturing industry; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Pritchard's expertise in education was invaluable to the General Assembly, and he will remain a recognized leader regarding education policy; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Pritchard led negotiations for education funding reform and worked tirelessly to pass historic education funding reform legislation in 2017, an accomplishment that made great progress toward adequately and equitably funding Illinois schools and providing the best future for Illinois students; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Pritchard's passion for education did not stop in State government; he was a great teacher and leader in the community; he held a youth council every year which gathered bright students from across his district for insightful dialogue about government and current events; he promoted continuous learning for students through his annual summer reading program and supported arts in the schools through a legislative art contest; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Pritchard enjoyed connecting with constituents in his district through various outreach events, such as his annual senior health fair, which helped make services and resources available to local senior citizens; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Pritchard's impressive career in the House of Representatives and his accomplishments in the community will help him find future success beyond the General Assembly as he continues his career as a board member at Northern Illinois University; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate State Rep. Bob Pritchard on his retirement and recognize his years of service to the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Rep. Pritchard as a symbol of our respect and esteem.